Europe have exclusively revealed their plans for 2016, which include work on a brand new studio album, and a celebration of the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough album ‘The Final Countdown’.

﻿﻿By Eamon O'Neill on 13 November 2015.

Hard rock superstars Europe have exclusively revealed their plans for 2016, which include work on a brand new studio album, and some special events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of their breakthrough album ‘The Final Countdown’.

Speaking exclusively to Gigs And Festivals on the red carpet at the Classic Rock ‘Roll Of Honour’, singer Joey Tempest said he was thrilled to be at the event where his band picked up the ‘Comeback’ award, as well as performing a short set. Tempest said: “I’ve been to one of these before, and I think they’re amazing. The reason I come here is the support – it’s a big thing.”

Recalling their biggest album, as well as alluding to just how far they’ve come since reforming in 2003, the front man admitted that success had been a double-edged sword. He admitted: “We have a big baggage – good and bad – from the eighties [but] after eleven years and five new albums, we finally feel that we’re turning it around.”

Having distanced themselves from their early pop-rock image, the singer went on to clarify just how important it was to re-establish the band. He continued: “We wanted to move on musically, and move on as a band. It takes a long time – you can’t just do that overnight.”

As well as planning to release a new album in 2017 – “we’re looking at booking some studio time in September next year” – the five-piece are also set to embrace their past, with plans in the works to celebrate the three-decade milestone of ‘The Final Countdown’ in a suitably epic way.

Speaking about the anniversary, the band leader revealed that Europe will be playing the album in its entirety at a few select shows: “There’ll be a few shows regarding the anniversary of the ‘The Final Countdown’ [in 2016]”.He added: “We’re putting together a few shows at the end of the year as a celebration. We don’t want to overdo it, but it will be something [special]”.

Released in 1986, ‘The Final Countdown’ turned Europe into global superstars, selling over three million copies and producing five hit singles including ‘Rock The Night’ and ‘Carrie’. However, it was the album’s now infamous title track that propelled the record into the stratosphere, turning the group into household names, and topping the charts in over twenty-five countries.